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As Nigeria’s economic situation worsens, struggling husbands are increasingly turning to sports betting and other forms of gambling for hope. As they pour more money into betting, their priorities shift, leading to neglect of their families and responsibilities. BABATUNDE TITILOLA writes on how this habit leaves wives and children grappling with the emotional and financial fallout of a gambling addiction that threatens to tear their families apart
At the heart of the lively buzz of Ojo Garage in Ibadan, Oyo State, Toyin sits in front of her makeshift kiosk. Her presence is both inviting to potential alcohol consumers and captivating due to her youthful stature.
The sun hung high in the sky that afternoon, its scorching rays making the air shimmer with heat. Drops of sweat trickled down Toyin’s brow as she shifted on the worn wooden bench inside her modest shop.
Despite the constant hum of nearby vehicles and the cacophony of loud human conversations, Toyin maintained a calm demeanour, seemingly unaffected by the day’s chaos.
In her 30s and the mother of two children, Toyin spends the majority of her day at the garage.
“There’s not much to do at home except prepare my kids for bed,” she explained.
Her business is thriving, as alcohol is a favourite among the drivers, conductors, ticket collectors, and even passengers at the garage. Toyin has invested herself wholeheartedly in the venture, and it’s only a matter of time before she becomes a household name in sachet alcohol sales in the area.
But beneath her thriving business lies an open wound that brings nothing but pain and constant worry.
“My husband is a cab driver,” she began, her voice laced with the weight of her words.
Toyin’s husband was not accustomed to having little money in his pockets. So, when the pandemic hit, he was struck by the harsh reality that he might go broke.
“But he became addicted to gambling. It started in 2020, during the pandemic. With the lockdown in place, he wasn’t working as he used to. The little money he had was spent on playing sure odds and virtual games. He would borrow from anyone just to fund his bets.”
Despite working on a small farm in a village along the Oyo-Ibadan Expressway during the pandemic, Toyin’s husband sought more, and betting seemed like a quick fix to his problems.
He was wrong. His addiction has caused irreversible damage that is now eroding the very foundation of his family.
“He stopped doing anything in the house. He rarely buys anything for the children, only when he’s feeling really good about himself. I do not recognise the man he’s become,” she lamented.
Sports betting, gambling versus marital stability
Gambling has long been a source of excitement and entertainment for many. However, in recent years, it has morphed into an addiction wreaking havoc on families across Nigeria. As the allure of quick riches entices more people, a troubling trend has emerged among Nigerian men.
An increasing number of men are finding their gambling habits not just a personal vice, but the spark for marital breakdowns. The thrill of placing bets and the hope of winning can quickly spiral into a destructive cycle, leaving behind a trail of financial ruin and emotional turmoil.
For many wives, the impact of their husbands’ gambling addiction is felt deeply in the home. What may begin as a seemingly harmless pastime increasingly escalates into a compulsion that threatens the very foundation of family life.
This is the reality for Isiaka, but she is not alone. Many women continue to endure the relentless torture of being married to addicted husbands. These women share a common experience, one marked by the pain and devastation of carrying the burdens of absent husbands and deadbeat fathers. They are left to juggle the responsibilities of maintaining the household while desperately trying to save a marriage torn apart by addiction.
The dopamine in betting
During the National Gaming Conference in Lagos State in October 2023, the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Bello Maigari, revealed that more than 65 million Nigerians actively spend millions, averaging $15 daily, on betting.
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